Who is Laila Ali? The Woman Who Tore Down Posters of Kidnapped Israelis in Chicago
On October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists launched a surprise attack on Israel, taking more than 200 Israeli civilians hostage. The hostages included children, women, elderly, and disabled people, who were abducted from their homes, schools, workplaces, and public places. The attack sparked a global outcry and a massive campaign to raise awareness and demand the release of the hostages.
One of the ways that the campaign was carried out was by putting up missing person posters featuring the photos and names of the hostages in various cities around the world. The posters were meant to humanize the hostages and appeal to the conscience of the international community. However, not everyone was sympathetic to the plight of the hostages. In fact, some people took it upon themselves to tear down the posters, expressing their hatred and hostility towards Israel and its people.
One of the most shocking and disturbing incidents of poster-ripping occurred in Chicago, where two young women were caught on camera tearing down the posters while cursing and yelling “F–k Israel”. The video of the incident went viral on social media, sparking outrage and condemnation from many people. But who were these women and what motivated them to do such a hateful act? One of them was identified as Laila Ali, a Patient Coordinator at Mindful Care, a mental health clinic in Chicago. In this article, we will try to answer the question: Who is Laila Ali and why did she do what she did?
Laila Ali Background
Laila Ali is a 25-year-old woman who lives in Chicago. She was born and raised in a Muslim family of Palestinian origin. According to her LinkedIn profile, she graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. She then joined Mindful Care as a Patient Coordinator in January 2023. Her role at the clinic was to assist patients with scheduling appointments, verifying insurance, and providing administrative support.
UPDATE: this woman has been identified as Laila Ali.
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) January 3, 2024
According to her LinkedIn, she is a patient coordinator with @Mindful__Care : https://t.co/2VRXrHp9rq
Imagine being a Jewish patient and dealing with her! https://t.co/IKslEjymWv pic.twitter.com/VepVTtAMWd
According to her coworkers and friends, Laila was a friendly, cheerful, and compassionate person who cared deeply about her patients and their well-being. She was also passionate about social justice and human rights, especially for the Palestinian cause. She was an active member of several pro-Palestinian organizations and groups, such as Students for Justice in Palestine, American Muslims for Palestine, and the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. She often participated in protests, rallies, and events to raise awareness and support for the Palestinian struggle against the Israeli occupation and oppression.
However, Laila’s activism also had a darker side. She was known to harbor anti-Israel and anti-Semitic views, which she expressed openly on her social media accounts. She often posted inflammatory and hateful messages, images, and videos that demonized and delegitimized Israel and its people. She also shared conspiracy theories and false information that accused Israel of committing atrocities and crimes against humanity. She showed no sympathy or empathy for the Israeli victims of terrorism, violence, and war. She also expressed support and admiration for Hamas and other terrorist groups that targeted and killed Israeli civilians.
The Incident
On November 1, 2023, Laila Ali and her friend, who has not been identified yet, were walking on Broadway and 79th Street on the Upper West Side of Chicago, when they came across a row of posters that displayed the faces and names of some of the Israeli hostages. The posters were part of a global campaign called #BringThemHome, which was launched by the Israeli government and several Jewish and human rights organizations to demand the release of the hostages and to pressure Hamas to comply with the international humanitarian law.
Instead of ignoring or respecting the posters, Laila and her friend decided to rip them off the walls and throw them on the ground. As they did so, they shouted profanities and insults at the posters, such as “F–k Israel”, “F–k you, b—h”, and “Israel made up the hostages with AI”. They also made obscene gestures and laughed at the posters. Their actions were captured on video by a passerby, who confronted them and asked them to stop. The passerby, who turned out to be Marilyn Adler, a Jewish woman from New York who was visiting her daughter Melissa in Chicago, tried to reason with Laila and her friend and explain to them that the posters were of innocent civilians who were kidnapped by terrorists. However, Laila and her friend refused to listen and continued to curse and yell at Adler and her daughter, who also joined the confrontation. They also threatened to harm them physically if they did not leave them alone.
The video of the incident was uploaded on social media by Adler and soon went viral, attracting millions of views and comments. Many people expressed their shock, disgust, and anger at Laila and her friend’s behavior and called for their arrest and prosecution. They also praised Adler and her daughter for their courage and dignity in standing up to the poster-rippers. The video also caught the attention of the media, who reported on the incident and identified Laila as one of the perpetrators. The other woman has not been identified yet, but the police are investigating the case and looking for her.
The Aftermath
The incident had serious consequences for Laila and her friend, as well as for the clinic where Laila worked. As soon as the video went viral, Laila received a barrage of criticism, backlash, and threats from people who were outraged by her actions. She also faced legal action, as Adler filed a police report against her and her friend, accusing them of harassment, vandalism, and hate crime. Laila could face up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine if convicted.
Laila Ali also lost her job at Mindful Care, as the clinic decided to fire her after learning about the incident. The clinic issued a statement on its website, saying that it was “shocked and appalled” by Laila’s behavior and that it did not tolerate or condone any form of hate, discrimination, or violence. The clinic also apologized to Adler and her daughter, as well as to the Israeli hostages and their families, and expressed its solidarity and support for them. The clinic also said that it would conduct a thorough review of its hiring and screening process and take measures to prevent such incidents from happening again.
Laila has not made any public statement or apology since the incident. She has also deleted or deactivated her social media accounts, where she used to post her anti-Israel and anti-Semitic content. She has gone into hiding and has not been seen or heard from since the incident. Her family and friends have also declined to comment on the matter, saying that they are concerned for her safety and well-being.
The poster-ripping incident involving Laila Ali and her friend was a shocking and disturbing display of hate and intolerance that violated the rights and dignity of the Israeli hostages and their families, as well as the Jewish community and the general public. The incident also exposed the ugly reality of anti-Semitism and anti-Israel sentiment that exists in some segments of the society, especially among some pro-Palestinian activists and supporters. The incident also raised questions about the role and responsibility of social media platforms, mental health clinics, and educational institutions in preventing and combating such hate and extremism.
The incident also sparked a wave of solidarity and compassion for the Israeli hostages and their families, as well as for the Jewish community and the general public. The incident also inspired many people to join and support the #BringThemHome campaign and to demand the release of the hostages and the end of the Hamas terror. The incident also reminded us of the importance of dialogue, understanding, and respect among different people and groups, especially in times of conflict and crisis.
Laila Ali and her friend may have thought that they were expressing their political views and exercising their freedom of speech when they ripped down the posters. However, they were actually committing a hateful and criminal act that harmed and offended many people and violated the basic principles of human decency and morality. They also damaged their own reputation and future, as well as the reputation and credibility of the clinic where Laila worked and the causes that she claimed to support. They also missed an opportunity to learn and grow from the posters, which could have taught them about the human stories and suffering behind the conflict and the war.
The posters were not just pieces of paper. They were symbols of hope and humanity. They were reminders of the value and sanctity of life. They were appeals for peace and justice. They were messages of love and support. They deserved to be seen and heard, not torn and trashed. They deserved to be respected and honored, not cursed and hated. They deserved to be brought home, not forgotten and abandoned.
